RANGERS ROADS: November 8th, 1916: New Purpose for the 127th Battalion

In 1916, Ottawa deferred to its old militia regiments to recruit for the war effort. The York Rangers raised two more battalions that year, including the 127th Battalion under LCol Frederick Clarke.

Clarke was a good leader and created a hard-marching unit with a strong elan. He got it to England in late 1916, ready to take their place as infantry in the trenches. Unfortunately, most of the Canadian battalions that arrived by then were broken up as reinforcements. But 22 of the officers and 800 men of the 127th had been construction or railway workers in civilian life, and an idea came.

Armies at the Front had an insatiable need for railway lines – each consumes thousands of tons of supplies every day in a difficult environment. Most of the 127th had worked in the challenging railroad conditions of Canada, especially in the North. The battalion was repurposed as rail construction engineers, and they were beyond good at it. Their talent for innovation and innate skill quickly became obvious, as did their continuing high morale.

For two years, the 127th had railroad spurs to survey, grade and build, damaged lines to repair, railway yards and termini to construct and bridges to erect. They ran their own machine-shops, pumping stations, and had war damaged engines and rolling stock to salvage and repair. They also sometimes worked under shellfire and air attack, and could lay down light railway track as fast as a man could walk. There were dud munitions and German boobytraps to handle.

Railway troops are not the sinews of an Army and don’t garner glory… but Clarke got two awards of the Distinguished Service Order during the War. The Rangers of the 127th were highly regarded for good reason.